Patriots’ Hill dies in accident

The body of New England Patriots player Marquise Hill was found Monday, a Louisiana state official said, a day after he was reported missing after a jet ski accident on Lake Pontchartrain in New Orleans.

Hill’s body was discovered by searchers about a quarter of a mile from where the former Louisiana State star and a female companion were involved in the accident, said Capt. Brian Clark of the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Department.

Hill’s agent, Albert Elias, said he had been told Hill and a young woman were jet-skiing Sunday in the lake when both of them went into the water, which had a strong current. Elias said the woman was able to make it to a pylon and hang on until she was rescued, while Hill was last seen floating away from the scene.

Hill, a defensive end, played on Louisiana State’s national championship team in 2003 and was a second-round draft pick by New England in 2004.

“We have suffered a stunning and tragic loss,” Patriots Coach Bill Belichick said in a written statement Monday evening. “Marquise will be remembered as a thoughtful and caring young man who established himself as one of the year-round daily fixtures of our team. I send my deepest condolences to the Hill family.”

Loved ones, including Hill’s fiancee, Inell Benn, and friends, including Patriots teammate Randall Gay, waited anxiously along the shoreline as the search went on. They consoled one another when authorities told them Hill’s body had been found.

“Right now’s a terrible time,” Benn said. “I don’t know what to feel right now.”

The woman, whose identity was not available, was rescued and sent to Tulane University Medical Center, where she told them Hill had tried to keep her calm as the two were drifting away from each other.

Neither Hill nor the woman wore a life preserver, a Coast Guard spokesman said.

HOCKEY

Markov and Canadiens reach four-year deal

Veteran defenseman Andrei Markov is staying in Montreal after signing a $23-million, four-year deal with the Canadiens.

Markov was fourth on the team in scoring this season, and second among the club’s defensemen with six goals and 43 assists in 77 games. The 29-year-old was due to become an unrestricted free agent July 1.

In 411 games with Montreal, the Russian has 46 goals and 161 assists.

The Phoenix Coyotes will hire former New York Rangers forward Don Maloney as their general manager today, a person familiar with the decision said. Maloney is the Rangers’ assistant general manager and vice president of player personnel. He has spent the last nine years in the Rangers’ front office.

TENNIS

USC’s Nelson loses to Cohen in NCAA women’s final

USC’s Lindsey Nelson lost in the women’s final for the second straight year as Audra Cohen of Miami and Somdev Devvarman of Virginia won NCAA singles tennis championships at Athens, Ga.

Devvarman won two tiebreakers to beat top-seeded John Isner of Georgia for the men’s title.

Cohen beat Nelson, 7-5, 6-2.

Peter Polansky defeated top-seeded Kevin Kim, 7-6 (2), 7-6 (5), in the first round of the $50,000 Countrywide Classic USTA Pro Circuit Challenger event at the Home Depot Center in Carson.

MISCELLANY

Johns Hopkins beats Duke to win men’s lacrosse title

Johns Hopkins claimed its ninth men’s lacrosse title, withstanding a furious Duke rally before escaping with a 12-11 victory at Baltimore.

The Blue Jays (13-4) never trailed.

Despite the loss, Duke’s performance effectively purged any remaining bitterness from an agonizing 2006 season that was canceled after eight games after an exotic dancer claimed she was attacked by three Duke players at a team party. The allegations ultimately proved to be false.

Formula One team McLaren is being investigated for a possible rule breach at the Monaco Grand Prix after Fernando Alonso finished first ahead of McLaren teammate Lewis Hamilton.

World motorsports’ governing body, FIA, said in a statement that it was reviewing evidence from Sunday’s race. Alonso finished 4.095 seconds ahead of Hamilton, who was told by McLaren to slow down.

McLaren team principal Ron Dennis said he asked Hamilton to slow down because of the tight street circuit of Monte Carlo.